RE: SOTW Special - Golf GTI 16V Bought!

[bodhi]

I've had 3 Mk3's during my VW phase, two valvers and an 8v. The 8v felt torquier but only cos it was hugely underpowered. The valvers were superb however. Faster to 60 than the Mk2, and higher PTW. The handling was pretty good too when you fitted better shocks. I had a mint 90k example but stuck it through a hedge trying overtake a Ferrari that was turning into a completely hidden side turning. Ooops.

Sadly the last one had a terminal gearbox problem and had to go, I've gone back to the Italians now. In practice, Dubs aren't that reliable at all, just cost a fortune to fix. Fiats can normally be fixed with WD-40 and Duck tape.

[Dantxd]

shouldbworking said:

There has to be more to it at that price..

Either its genuine, and every consumable on it is due for replacement, or its been stacked + not recorded.

So which is it?

It could just be a bargain because the guy needed money asap. Not everything that appears to be a bargain is a con.

[DamonDash]

i also have had mk3s and they were dog sh!t, worst of the breed by far

ps i thought Fiats were BUILT out of wd40 and duck tape...

[minimatt1967]

DamonDash said:

i also have had mk3s and they were dog sh!t, worst of the breed by far

ps i thought Fiats were BUILT out of wd40 and duck tape...

A work colleague sold his MK2 GTi 8v to buy......................................

A MK3 8v

[Tim S]

bodhi said:

Fiats can normally be fixed with WD-40 and Duck tape.

Yes, but you have to be careful not to get the WD40 on the Duck tape as it ruins the sticky.

[rushman1]

HEY THERE JUST ONE THING YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BOUGHT A 1989 MKII 16V WHICH ACTALLY MEANS SOMEONE HAS PUT AFTERMARKET BIG BUMPERS ON IT, BUT STILL £250 QUID= BARGAIN!!!!! A BIT OF TLC AND YOU WILL BE £250+ BETTER OFF VERY SOON BUT STATE THE FACT ITS AN 89 AND NOT A BIG BUMPER VERSION.

[minimatt1967]

Am I the only one who prefers non-big bumper MK2's?

[speedtwelve]

rushman1 said:

HEY THERE JUST ONE THING YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BOUGHT A 1989 MKII 16V WHICH ACTALLY MEANS SOMEONE HAS PUT AFTERMARKET BIG BUMPERS ON IT, BUT STILL £250 QUID= BARGAIN!!!!! A BIT OF TLC AND YOU WILL BE £250+ BETTER OFF VERY SOON BUT STATE THE FACT ITS AN 89 AND NOT A BIG BUMPER VERSION.

Do keep up at the back

ps welcome to PH!

Edited by speedtwelve on Friday 19th September 20:38

[Callan.T89]

exgtt said:

Callan.T89 said:

thetrash said:

Neil G60 said:

you don’t have to rag the nuts of it to make any meaningful progress

Can't you read!, they have less torque than the 16v at every point of the rev range...

Anyone who says the 8V is faster / more useable is either an idiot or has never driven a 'valver. I had 2 8V golfs and then 2 16V Jettas and I can say with no bias that the 16V engine is more drivable, smoother, more torquey, more willing to rev and way more powerful. The 8V does sound better though.

I'm gonna throw this out there though... The 16V jetta is better than the 16V golf, cheaper to insure, stiffer chassis, more aerodynamic and more practical.

one last thing, my 16V standard Jetta was the only car I've ever owned that could hit the limiter (7500rpm) in top gear, speedo said 148mph my calcualtions said 135mph... on the M5 at 2am pretty impressive and also very scary.

Didn't the Jetta 16v also have a different gearbox (lower ratios?) from the golf 16v that made it a bit quicker to 60 MPH?

Edited by exgtt on Friday 19th September 19:30

Yes it did have a different gearbox but it had a slightly higher ratio second gear which meant it did 61mph at the limiter in 2nd so you didn't have to change into 3rd on a 0-60 run meaning faster times (I believe, not 100% sure on these facts)

I managed 0-60mph in 7.1 secs in my Jet-car (I do have film of it somewhere as well)

[Callan.T89]

DamonDash said:

i also have had mk3s and they were dog sh!t, worst of the breed by far

ps i thought Fiats were BUILT out of wd40 and duck tape...

The 8V MK3 was the worst Golf GTi ever and I thought the 16V would be as bad but when desperate for a car I bought one for £400 and it was excellent.

1995 Mk3 16V, Had 189K on the clock, did 148bhp on the dyno (standard) did 38mpg, very comfy and very fast and capable, it was my favourite Golf ever... And when I turned it into a track car it showed how good it really was - an absolute stormer

[J111]

If and when you get it up on the ramps, please will you put the mechanic's reaction on Youtube ?

[stockver]

rushman1 said:

HEY THERE JUST ONE THING YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BOUGHT A 1989 MKII 16V WHICH ACTALLY MEANS SOMEONE HAS PUT AFTERMARKET BIG BUMPERS ON IT, BUT STILL £250 QUID= BARGAIN!!!!! A BIT OF TLC AND YOU WILL BE £250+ BETTER OFF VERY SOON BUT STATE THE FACT ITS AN 89 AND NOT A BIG BUMPER VERSION.

[3 Sheds]

bodhi said:

In practice, Dubs aren't that reliable at all, just cost a fortune to fix. Fiats can normally be fixed with WD-40 and Duck tape.

Sorry but its more likely the other way round! - Unless you use VW directly for parts, if you know where to go (and what your buying) Dubs are brilliant budget ownership.

[3 Sheds]

minimatt1967 said:

Am I the only one who prefers non-big bumper MK2's?

No your not, I've always preferred small bumpers ( big bumpers make the Mk2 to heavy looking...and a bit chavy!)

[Superjuiced]

I Had one of these and reading all the articles i wish i hadnt sold it, kept it fixed it up and still had it to un around in (head gasket went and i sold it shamefully for less than what this sotw cost)

All round it was a cracking car and ive had loads of hatches,

[Marquis_Rex]

ASBO said:

BUG4LIFE said:

My favourite car of all time! I love the way they look, I love the way they drive, I pretty much love everything about these cars.

Here is a pic of mine [which is currently for sale by the way - I've stepped up to an Integra Type-R now]...it's only got 77k miles on the clock! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/688440.htm

Jesus

That's a helluva lot of money.

Is the mkII GTI market still that buoyant?

I wonder also, especially seeing as there are genuine original pristine G60s with FVWSH round the corner also

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/708709.htm

both very nice cars though.
The argument that the 8 valve is torquier than the 16v isnt true, it just feels it due to torque curve shape and gearing. If you want Torque- go for the G60

[Superjuiced]

I Had one of these and reading all the articles i wish i hadnt sold it, kept it fixed it up and still had it to un around in (head gasket went and i sold it shamefully for less than what this sotw cost)

All round it was a cracking car and ive had loads of hatches,

[honest1]

Mk1 And Mk2 Golf GTI's were the best VW ever made. Still some 30 years on and they still look back for inspiration. I my opinion having a few 8v and 16v the 8v is so much nicer to drive and tune.

[Puff Puff]

Oli S said:

Puff Puff said:

"Comes with ultra rare DTM exhaust kit"

Ultra rare??

They were off the shelf from companies such as Jetex....

I was being sarcastic

I'm so impressed....

[erolb]

Altrezia said:

LeoZwalf said:

Altrezia said:

Its not a big bumper golf. It HAS big bumpers, but were fitted later on in the cars life, sorry lads!

How can you tell?

G (1990) was the changeover year. This car has the larger side trim, early style arches, and a few other bits. Easiest way to tell is the electrics. If the hazards are on the dash its old style, if they are on the column, it's later (CE2) style. Later electrics mean easier for engine swaps!

Also, at NO POINT in the rev range does the 8v have more torque than the 16v, its a myth, search Club GTI where plenty of people put it to the test on various rolling roads.

Also note that it doesn't have the in-bumper fog lamps of the legit big bumper 16v, rather black plastic covers. ITHANKYUP